Henderson County commissioners took no action on a proposed soccer complex and public park at Highland Lake during their meeting Monday, but indicated the fate of the project could very well rest in the hands of Flat Rock Village Council.Read it all.
Residents for and against the complex packed the commissioners' meeting room in the Historic Courthouse for what was the largest-attended meeting of the year. A full hour before the meeting began, more than 20 people were already lined up waiting to enter the building, and by the time it began, an overflow crowd nearly filled the adjoining Carolina First Community Room, where audio of the proceedings was available. About 150 people attended the meeting.
Two additional Sheriff's Office deputies were assigned to ensure peace was kept. There were no confrontations between the two divided sides....
In the end, they did not get a definitive answer as to whether the county would reconsider its plans to purchase the Highland Lake Golf Course to convert it into soccer fields and a park with walking trails and other amenities....
“We need to make sure Flat Rock knows everything we know because, quite frankly, if Flat Rock Council is not behind it, I don't see how it can go anywhere,” [County Board Chairman Mike] Edney said. “It's got to be a joint effort, and it will be from our standpoint.”
Addressing criticism from many residents who claimed commissioners kept the council in the dark about the deal until it was made public at last month's commissioners' meeting, Edney said some Flat Rock officials have known about the county's plans since as far back as the spring.
According to Edney, discussions with the owners of the golf course, Course Doctors Inc., and the Henderson County Soccer Association began in March or April. County Tax Assessor Stan Duncan was then sent to determine the value of the property and meet with the Flat Rock Planning Department, Edney said, “so they knew that the county was thinking about this months and months and months ago.”
Furthermore, Edney said, the matter was discussed during a quarterly meeting with county municipalities in July, after which Edney personally showed Flat Rock Mayor Bob Staton a draft of the site plan.
“We've not tried to hide anything from Flat Rock,” Edney said. “We know (the proposed site) is in Flat Rock's town limits; if we had not been getting positive feedback from different folks out there, we'd never be where we are. We feel like it's a great project and I think a lot of the Flat Rock folks feel like it is.”...
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Flat Rock Village council thrown under the bus
From the Times-News, "Soccer complex kicked to Flat Rock Village Council":
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Don't think Edney is telling the truth
ReplyDeleteThey redirected the anger to the Village of Flat Rock, talk about deflection....
ReplyDeleteI would like to see a reply from Mayor Bob Stanton concerning these allegations.
ReplyDeleteeverybody (ESS EDNEY) is placing the blame on flat rock mayor so edney said it if the mayor of Flat Rock and its board say NO then it wont go foward PROBLEM SOLVED DONT DO IT END O STORY.. SAVE THE ROCK KEEP IT NATURAL DONT BE HIPPOCRITS
ReplyDeleteIf it goes to FRVC, it can be stopped there.
ReplyDeleteEdney should have realized from Ecklund never to say "no-brainer." If it truly was an "open" process the Flat Rock residents would have mobilized at least in August.
I can promise you Fletcher taxpayers, many who WANTED the soccer complex, are just as shocked and outraged.
Dennis Justice makes a great point. Obviously the blowback from Flat Rock property owners (myself included) on this issue is significant, and immediate -- a person, or group, kept this information locked down for a period of time.
ReplyDeleteTo quote a friend, "that ain't right".
To me this passage is encouraging: “We need to make sure Flat Rock knows everything we know because, quite frankly, if Flat Rock Council is not behind it, I don't see how it can go anywhere,” [County Board Chairman Mike] Edney said. “It's got to be a joint effort, and it will be from our standpoint.”
If that is in fact true, then there should be a good chance of shutting down this soccer complex. Flat Rock Council, are you listening?
Elected officials, please keep this old marketing axiom in mind when you are considering the issue: **For every customer that takes time to call or write and complain, there are 15 more that are angry about the same issue.**
At times there is a multiplier effect, I would say for each of the 22 that showed up at the council meeting there are probably hundreds that feel the same as them.
Is it too late to redirect this thing to Fletcher?